There may come a time when you look in the mirror and don't see what you expected. Your cheeks may be plumper, or you may notice the beginning of a double chin and sagging jowls. A variety of facial exercises can help tone and strengthen muscles of the face, promoting firmer skin and reducing the appearance of fat pockets around the face, according to Shape Your Face. Like any other muscles in the body, facial muscles, especially those in the chin and cheeks, should be exercised every day for optimal benefits.
Chin Basics
Reduce the signs of aging or slack skin around the chin and jaw line by performing an exercise that works the muscles at the base of the chin, called the mentalis, and the front of the neck under the chin, called the platysma, suggests Tom Hagerty of Shape Your Face. He suggests first moistening the chin with water or lotion and then lifting the lower lip over the upper lip. This will thrust your jaw slightly forward. You should be able to feel wrinkles in your chin. Hold that contraction for a moment and then lower your chin slightly, about 1/2 inch, while pushing the jaw outward, away from the face. You should feel the muscles all along the jaw line contract as you hold the jaw in this position. Hold that position for a few seconds and then release. Do this exercise about 10 times, several times a day.
Cheek Exercise
Firm and tone the cheek muscles by looking in a mirror while smiling as big as you can, keeping the lips together. Try to turn the edges of your mouth up while trying to extend your smile to reach your ears. Of course, you won't be able to smile that big, but you should be able to feel the pull in the cheeks. Then, scrunch your nose, as if you smelled something bad. Hold that contraction for a count of 5, suggests Ageless, and then relax. You can repeat this exercise about 10 times, several times a day if you wish.
Pucker Up
To work the cheeks, chin, the entire jaw line and the front of the throat, tilt your head backward until you're looking up at the ceiling or sky, suggests the Dermaxime website. Keep the lips pressed together and pucker, like you're engaging in an exaggerated smooch. Hold the smooch position for a count of 5 and then relax. Repeat the smooching motion at least 5 times, but try to smooch until your cheeks and jaw grow tired, or until you reach about 20, for optimal benefits.
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